 Q: What is a PFA?
A: Protection From Abuse Order is a binding civil court order that prohibits batterers from harming their victims again. These orders serve as a critical component to ensure a battered woman’s safety.
In addition to ordering the abuse to cease, PFA’s may also include the following relief:
Directing a batterer to have no contact with the victim and/or her family
Barring or evicting the offender from the home
Confiscating a batterer’s weapons
Granting temporary custody of the children to the battered woman
Limiting a batterer’s visitation or allowing only supervised visits with children
Directing the batterer not to stalk the victim
A batterer who violates a PFA may face indirect criminal contempt charges and could be fined $1,000 and/or jailed for up to six months.
Q: How do I get a PFA?
A: Call DVS/CP at 1-800-852-2102 or 717-258-4249. PFA’s are filed differently in each county. In Cumberland County, clients meet with an advocate who records the incidents of domestic violence. The information is sent to Legal Services or the Family Law Clinic in Carlisle where a paralegal meets with the client to file the petition with the Court. In Perry County, clients meet with an advocate who files the complete petition. There is no fee to pay in order to get a PFA either county.
Q:Who is eligible for a PFA?
A: Individuals who are experiencing domestic abuse at the hands of a current or former spouse, family member, or intimate partner and can show probable cause why this protection is needed.
Q: Who are the victims?
A: Anyone can be a victim, regardless of socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, racial background, or age.
Q: Who are the perpetrators?
A: perpetrator is a person who assumes the right to control a partner or family member and refuses to take responsibility for their destructive behavior.
Q: Why do men batter?
A: Some men batter to remind women that they have the primary power and influence in the relationship. Abusers abuse because they have an exaggerated need to control both situations and people, usually family members, around him.
Q: What is emotional abuse?
A: Emotional abuse is the manipulation of feelings; using derogatory comments or accusations and mind games to make the partner feel worthless, helpless or afraid.
Q: Does alcohol cause abusive behavior?
A: No. Alcohol can be a convenient excuse for violence but it does not cause the violence. There are many abusers who do not use alcohol but are still violent. There are also individuals who use alcohol who are not abusive.
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